TV Review: Sons of Anarchy, Season 7 Episode 1 – “Black Widower”

Jenna Johnson

10 years ago

Today we find ourselves at the beginning of the end. The first episode of the final season of FX’s hit TV show, Sons of Anarchy, premiered tonight and sets a marker for the tone of the end of the show. One thing is for sure: it’s going to be a lot darker than any of the other seasons of SOA have been.

If you’re like me, then you’ve been counting down the days to the return of SOA for months now. The way that season 6 ended left me devastated and dealing with some severe anxiety over what’s going to happen this season! Especially since it has always been known that this will be the final season. Is Juice going to be okay? Will Jemma get what she deserves? Will Jax lose all of the work he’s put into pulling the club away from all of the illegal activity they’ve always taken part in? Will he be consumed by his grief over the loss of Tara?

Tonight’s 1 hour and 45 minute premiere begins with a gruesome look into just how Jax, played by Charlie Hunnam, will be dealing with his Wife, Tara’s, death: with violence. While in prison, Jax beats a man, carves a swastika into his chest, and pulls out a couple of his teeth just to get on the good side of a high ranking member of a neo-Nazi gang, played by Marilyn Manson.

Throughout the episode, as he is released from prison and returns to his club, almost all that we see from the SAMCRO president is violence. And when he isn’t acting violently, he’s making violent plans for the future. We see him pulling away from his two sons, whom he doesn’t even go home to see after being released from prison, and leaning on his mother, Gemma, played by Katey Sagal. His actions begin to become almost reckless in a way that Jax has never been with himself and his club. For now he has the support of the rest of the club, but I can’t help but wonder how long they will stand behind this newfound murderous Jax. Especially after watching the last scene, where he brutally tortures a member of the Chinese gang who he believes to be Tara’s killer.

The catalyst behind all of Jax’s rage is, of course, his manipulative mother Gemma. In order to save herself from being outed as Tara’s killer, Gemma is pointing the finger at the Chinese, a rival gang with whom SAMCRO had problems last season. I’ve never been Gemma’s biggest fan, but it really seems like she’s taking things way too far this time. Not only was she personally responsible for Tara’s death, but now she’s also responsible for all those who will die because of this lie. Gemma is one of those extreme characters whom you either love, or love to hate. Either way, I can’t imagine that this season will end well for her.

Speaking of not ending well, series creator Kurt Sutter recently revealed that two of the main members of the MC will not make it to the end of this season. My number one guess is that Juice, played by Theo Rossi, will be one of the two MC member deaths (poor Juice!). He’s always been a favorite of mine, but last season he let things get way too out of hand and Jax is not going to be in a forgiving mood anytime soon. Especially if he ever finds out the hand that he had in helping Gemma cover the fact that she murdered Tara. At this point in time, Juice is hiding from the rest of the club with Gemma’s help, but he won’t be able to hide forever. As for the second death, it really could be anyone right now, even our main character Jax.

If this first episode gives us any indication of what to expect for the rest of the season, we will be seeing SAMCRO covered by a cloud of darkness and surrounded by death. It is a sad way to see things go for our favorite anti-heroes, but I still have some small hope that it will ultimately end well (at least for those who live).

Tune in to FX Tuesdays at 10/9c for the final season of Sons of Anarchy.